In a meeting with a roundtable of Jewish leaders at the White House on Wednesday, the Biden administration’s message to Iran was unequivocal: Exercise caution.
President Joe Biden discussed the deployment of U.S. military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a clear signal to Tehran.
“You know, among those who have been victimized, this evil who’ve killed at least 22 American citizens. This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty and not just hate but pure cruelty against the Jewish people. And I would argue it’s the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. The deadliest day since the Holocaust,” Biden said.
“We’re surging additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, including ammunition, and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. And we moved the U.S. carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean; are sending more fighter jets there in that region and made it clear, made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful,” he added.
The international community fears Iran may be emboldened to get involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict following Hamas deadly attacks.
Washington has pledged ongoing support for Israel and dispatched its top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to the region in a bid to avert a wider Middle Eastern war.
Biden also said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israel should operate by the rules of war laying aside anger and frustration.
Israel reels from an attack from Gaza by Hamas militants who killed more than 1,000 people in southern Israel on Saturday.
Israeli forces continued to pound Hamas-ruled Gaza on Wednesday seeking to root out militants and deployed forces north of the densely populated Palestinian enclave for a possible ground offensive.
